At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Steve Bannon faced backlash after seemingly making a Nazi salute while giving a speech. As he raised his right arm and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” some interpreted the gesture as a reference to Nazi ideology. Bannon, however, insisted it was just a wave to thank the crowd.
The gesture caused an uproar online, especially from the Anti-Defamation League, which described Bannon’s actions as part of a broader trend of promoting antisemitism and hate. They expressed concern over such behavior becoming normalized in political discourse.
In response to the controversy, French far-right politician Jordan Bardella canceled his scheduled speech at CPAC. He criticized Bannon’s gesture, stating it was provocative and linked to a troubling ideology. Bannon responded by calling Bardella “unworthy to lead France” and suggested that his reaction showed a lack of maturity.
Some supporters of Bannon claimed he made the gesture deliberately to provoke the media and his opponents. However, far-right influencer Nick Fuentes, who typically backs Bannon, admitted the salute felt uncomfortable even for him.
Bannon also used his speech to continue promoting claims about the 2020 election being stolen and endorsed Trump’s potential 2028 candidacy, despite constitutional barriers against a third term. “The future of America is MAGA. And the future of MAGA is Donald J. Trump,” he declared.
Bannon isn’t the only one scrutinized for gestures in Trump’s circle. Elon Musk recently faced criticism for a hand movement during a speech, but experts concluded it was not meant to convey any harmful symbolism. Musk dismissed the criticism, suggesting it was a tired tactic against him.
Attendees at CPAC expressed frustration with critics who compare Trump’s movement to Nazi ideology, viewing such comparisons as baseless. One attendee noted that such accusations are silly and lack logic.
CPAC, attended by many conservative leaders, continues to be a platform for discussions around the future of Trump’s movement and its direction.
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